The Richard Leonard Show Archives

THE REAL VA CRISIS ISN’T TRUST—IT’S ACCESS

In this episode of The Richard Leonard Show, Richard dives into the heated debate surrounding VA Community Care and the growing criticism over expanding veterans' access to healthcare outside the Department of Veterans Affairs. Drawing from his own experiences navigating the VA system, he explores the difference between preserving the services the VA does exceptionally well and giving veterans the flexibility to seek routine care closer to home. Richard argues that the real crisis isn't whether the VA should exist or be privatized—it's access. From rural veterans driving hours for basic appointments to overwhelmed staff and long wait times, he examines whether expanding Community Care could finally deliver on the promise America made to those who served: timely, quality healthcare without unnecessary barriers. Brought to you by Cortez Wealth Management! Proudly supporting America First values 🇺🇸! Looking for retirement and asset growth strategies from someone who shares your values? Check out Cortez Wealth Management, led by a proud Christian husband, father, and patriot. 👉 http://cortezwm.com/ Pet Club 247 is your trusted source for affordable, high-quality pet products delivered to your door. Shop now at https://richardleonard.petclub247.com/ and get Wholesale pricing, Auto-ship convenience, Premium pet nutrition, and wellness. Support your pets and wallet by partnering with us. Join the Club! PATRIOT-APPROVED HEMP PRODUCTS. Tired of woke wellness brands? So are we. At AmericanHempHub.com, you’ll find CBD & hemp products made in the USA with no globalist garbage. Pure. Lab-Tested. Freedom-First. Relief without chemicals. Trusted by patriots who think for themselves 👉 Visit: https://AmericanHempHub.com Because your body deserves real health from real Americans.

How a Paperwork Technicality Impacts National Guard Soldiers

In this episode of The Richard Leonard Show, Richard breaks down the confusing system behind how National Guard soldiers are paid during domestic federal missions — and why many troops serving in dangerous operations across America are missing out on benefits, retirement credit, and protections they rightfully earned. Drawing from his own military background, he examines the difference between Title 10 and Title 32 orders, the outdated laws behind them, and the growing push in Congress to fix the problem. Brought to you by Cortez Wealth Management! Proudly supporting America First values 🇺🇸! Looking for retirement and asset growth strategies from someone who shares your values? Check out Cortez Wealth Management, led by a proud Christian husband, father, and patriot. 👉 http://cortezwm.com/ Pet Club 247 is your trusted source for affordable, high-quality pet products delivered to your door. Shop now at https://richardleonard.petclub247.com/ and get Wholesale pricing, Auto-ship convenience, Premium pet nutrition, and wellness. Support your pets and wallet by partnering with us. Join the Club! PATRIOT-APPROVED HEMP PRODUCTS. Tired of woke wellness brands? So are we. At AmericanHempHub.com, you’ll find CBD & hemp products made in the USA with no globalist garbage. Pure. Lab-Tested. Freedom-First. Relief without chemicals. Trusted by patriots who think for themselves 👉 Visit: https://AmericanHempHub.com Because your body deserves real health from real Americans.

The Cost of Freedom Has Faces, Names, and Graves

In this episode of The Richard Leonard Show, Richard reflects on the true meaning of Memorial Day — a day not for celebration, but for remembering the men and women who never made it home. Through stories of brotherhood, sacrifice, grief, and the memories veterans carry long after war ends, he honors the fallen and the families still living with empty chairs and unfinished conversations. Brought to you by Cortez Wealth Management! Proudly supporting America First values 🇺🇸! Looking for retirement and asset growth strategies from someone who shares your values? Check out Cortez Wealth Management, led by a proud Christian husband, father, and patriot. 👉 http://cortezwm.com/ Pet Club 247 is your trusted source for affordable, high-quality pet products delivered to your door. Shop now at https://richardleonard.petclub247.com/ and get Wholesale pricing, Auto-ship convenience, Premium pet nutrition, and wellness. Support your pets and wallet by partnering with us. Join the Club! PATRIOT-APPROVED HEMP PRODUCTS. Tired of woke wellness brands? So are we. At AmericanHempHub.com, you’ll find CBD & hemp products made in the USA with no globalist garbage. Pure. Lab-Tested. Freedom-First. Relief without chemicals. Trusted by patriots who think for themselves 👉 Visit: https://AmericanHempHub.com Because your body deserves real health from real Americans.

For Veterans, Losing a Dog Is Never “Just Losing a Pet”

This week on The Richard Leonard Show, I’m opening up about something deeply personal the heartbreaking reality of finding out my dog Gus has cancer and preparing for the day I’ll have to say goodbye. But this episode is bigger than just my story. We’re digging into the powerful bond between veterans and their dogs, why these animals become far more than “just pets,” and the emotional toll that comes when the one thing keeping you grounded starts slipping away. For many veterans, these dogs aren’t companions—they’re lifelines. And nobody really talks about what happens when that lifeline is suddenly taken from you. Brought to you by Cortez Wealth Management! Proudly supporting America First values 🇺🇸! Looking for retirement and asset growth strategies from someone who shares your values? Check out Cortez Wealth Management, led by a proud Christian husband, father, and patriot. 👉 http://cortezwm.com/ Pet Club 247 is your trusted source for affordable, high-quality pet products delivered to your door. Shop now at https://richardleonard.petclub247.com/ and get Wholesale pricing, Auto-ship convenience, Premium pet nutrition, and wellness. Support your pets and wallet by partnering with us. Join the Club! PATRIOT-APPROVED HEMP PRODUCTS. Tired of woke wellness brands? So are we. At AmericanHempHub.com, you’ll find CBD & hemp products made in the USA with no globalist garbage. Pure. Lab-Tested. Freedom-First. Relief without chemicals. Trusted by patriots who think for themselves 👉 Visit: https://AmericanHempHub.com Because your body deserves real health from real Americans.

Stuck in Congress: The Bill That Could Change Veterans’ Lives

This week on The Richard Leonard Show, I’m digging into the Major Richard Starr Act—a bill damn near everybody says they support, yet somehow it never gets across the finish line. We’re talking about ending the so-called “wounded warrior tax” on combat-injured veterans, and I’ve got some questions about why it keeps getting stalled out in Congress. Is it the cost? Political games? Competing priorities? Or is this just another case of the government making promises it has no intention of keeping? I break down what’s really going on, call it like I see it, and leave you with one simple question—are we actually taking care of our veterans, or just pretending to? Brought to you by Cortez Wealth Management! Proudly supporting America First values 🇺🇸! Looking for retirement and asset growth strategies from someone who shares your values? Check out Cortez Wealth Management, led by a proud Christian husband, father, and patriot. 👉 http://cortezwm.com/ Pet Club 247 is your trusted source for affordable, high-quality pet products delivered to your door. Shop now at https://richardleonard.petclub247.com/ and get Wholesale pricing, Auto-ship convenience, Premium pet nutrition, and wellness. Support your pets and wallet by partnering with us. Join the Club! PATRIOT-APPROVED HEMP PRODUCTS. Tired of woke wellness brands? So are we. At AmericanHempHub.com, you’ll find CBD & hemp products made in the USA with no globalist garbage. Pure. Lab-Tested. Freedom-First. Relief without chemicals. Trusted by patriots who think for themselves 👉 Visit: https://AmericanHempHub.com Because your body deserves real health from real Americans.

The Forgotten Frontline: The Suicide Surge No One Talks About

This week on The Richard Leonard Show, I break down a crisis that’s been hiding in plain sight—the rising suicide rates not just among veterans, but inside military families. What’s really driving this surge, why aren’t we talking about it more publicly, and how deep does this problem actually go? From a veteran’s perspective, I dig into the emotional and psychological toll of service on spouses and children, the cracks in support systems, and the realities of life behind the uniform. If the focus has only been on veterans this whole time, you’ve got to ask—how many others have we been overlooking? Brought to you by Cortez Wealth Management! Proudly supporting America First values 🇺🇸! Looking for retirement and asset growth strategies from someone who shares your values? Check out Cortez Wealth Management, led by a proud Christian husband, father, and patriot. 👉 http://cortezwm.com/ Pet Club 247 is your trusted source for affordable, high-quality pet products delivered to your door. Shop now at https://richardleonard.petclub247.com/ and get Wholesale pricing, Auto-ship convenience, Premium pet nutrition, and wellness. Support your pets and wallet by partnering with us. Join the Club! PATRIOT-APPROVED HEMP PRODUCTS. Tired of woke wellness brands? So are we. At AmericanHempHub.com, you’ll find CBD & hemp products made in the USA with no globalist garbage. Pure. Lab-Tested. Freedom-First. Relief without chemicals. Trusted by patriots who think for themselves 👉 Visit: https://AmericanHempHub.com Because your body deserves real health from real Americans.